Points North by Points North Atlanta Magazine

CONTENTS

POINTS NORTH MAGAZINE

The statistics are staggering: Nearly 3 million cases of child abuse are reported each year, and every

Spring is in the air all over the city, but nowhere is it more evident than at the Atlanta Botanical Garden,

day, nearly four children die of such abuse, but a shattering silence shrouds the epidemic. That’s why Northside resident Lin Seahorn is speaking out dur-

where fanciful ﬂowers abound at its recently unveiled Atlanta Blooms event. Through May 1, a spectacular extravaganza of thousands of tulips, daffodils and

ing Child Abuse Prevention Month. Herself a survivor of child abuse, Seahorn strives to triumph over

other beautiful bulbs will burst forth from the earth, celebrating the beauty of a Southern spring.

tragedy through Children Without a Voice, a national organization dedicated to raising the awareness of and preventing crimes against children, child abuse

LIN SEAHORN

ATLANTA BLOOMS

The onset of April means longer days and warmer weather, so get ready for some exciting quests in Georgia and beyond. This month’s adventures will take you from the rivers of the Peach State to the chilly waters of Alaska, so it’s time to embark on what

CANE CREEK FARM At Cane Creek, a 17.5-acre, certiﬁed naturally grown

broccoli to peas, potatoes and peppers, all 50 to 60 types of fruits and vegetables here are grown using ecologically sensitive methods, are chemical-free and are not genetically modiﬁed.

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

could be your best spring ﬂing ever. Y OF PHOTO COURTESCOM MITTEE VIDALIA® ONION

farm in Cumming, owner Lynn Pugh is not only providing good quality produce for area residents through Community Supported Agriculture, she’s educating them on the importance of organic farming practices. From blueberries, blackberries and

PHOTO COURTESY OF SANCTUM DESIGN

DEPARTMENTS COLUMNS 6 | POINTS OF VIEW 8 | ALL POINTS BULLETIN

GENUINE ADVENTURES

and neglect through advocacy and education.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE REYNOLDS GROUP

PHOTO COURTESY OF ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN

PHOTO COURTESY OF CANE CREEK FARM

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHILDREN WITHOUT A VOICE

ISSUE 131 | APRIL 2011

40 | HOME EXTERIORS: OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES

70 | CALENDAR 74 | 5 THINGS I MUST DO THIS MONTH TRAVEL | RECREATION

CHECK OUT MIX IT UP ONLINE!

53 | BALTIMORE

Oh, sweet Vidalia! This month marks

58 | TRAVEL TIDBITS

the opening of South Georgia’s anticipated Vidalia Onion Museum on April 29. To celebrate, visit www.ptsnorth.com for a few recipes featuring our state’s famed sweet onions.

FOOD 64 | FOOD FOR THOUGHT: SEAFOOD

POINTS OF VIEW “Full many a ﬂower is born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness on the desert air.” — Poet Thomas Gray

I always like to be a tourist in my own town. You name it and I’ve been there. And if by chance you can stump me, I’ll be booking my calendar for a visit soon. I guess I just feel more connected to the community when I go exploring. And there is no better time to get out and about then during springtime. But many are not as busy as a bee as me. Sure, most Atlantans have been to the Georgia Aquarium and the New World of Coke, but what about some of our treasured older institutions? When is the last time you visited the Atlanta History Center, Fernbank Museum of Natural History or the Atlanta Botanical Garden? (Some of my favorite destinations in the city, by the way!) And if you say, “haven’t been in years,” or even worse, “nope, never been,” then it’s time to evoke your inner Ponce De Leon and get out and discover what you’ve been missing. This month, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is bursting with blooms in a special event that creates the pitch-perfect time for a visit, especially if you have yet to see all the wonderful new renovations and additions to the garden over the past two years. Last fall, the garden doubled its number of spring-blooming bulbs, planting an additional 100,000 new bulbs, including 70,000 tulips to create a “Dutch-like spectacle unlike any in the Southeast.” Atlanta Blooms will become a tradition for the city for years to come, so you won’t want to miss this inaugural celebration. I love spring in Atlanta, and I’m sure I’m not alone. So I encourage you all to take this opportunity to go out explore and don’t let that precious bloom “waste its sweetness on the desert air.” Where’s your favorite place in Atlanta? Let me know, ‘cause you know I’d love to go. Please email your suggestions to julie@ptsnorth.com.

Julie Hostetter Editor To send comments and/or suggestions on this or any other subject, e-mail us at: myturn@ptsnorth.com.

Editor

Creative Director

Advertising

Witt Beckman

Julie C. Hostetter

Robin Harrison

770-844-0969 sales@ptsnorth.com

Publisher

Senior Editor

Assistant Creative Director

Carl Danbury Jr.

Heather KW Brown

Shannah J. Smith

Account Executives

Managing Editor

Office Manager

Bre Humphries

Holly Widemire

Nate Curtis Tom Tolbert Justin DeCusati

Editorial Interns

Circulation Manager

Andrew Neveils

Tiffany Willard

Associate Publisher

Karen Poulsen

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Sarah R. Bailey Haley McNeil Amber Lanier Nagle Sara Shelton

c yc l e T h i s M a zi n e

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Contributing Writers ag

Points North is published monthly by All Points Interactive Media Corp. The opinions expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of the editor, the publisher or of Points North. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher.

All Points Interactive Media Corp. 568 Peachtree Parkway Cumming, Georgia 30041 770-844-0969 www.ptsnorth.com

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ALL POINTS BULLETIN

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Need to get away for a bit? Then we suggest getting lost One lucky Points North reader — in the immense beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, that will snag a two-night stay at High is! Come rest your bones, relax and rejuvenate your soul Hampton Inn and Country Club, among the backdrop of nature’s most beautiful landscapes which includes three daily meals and of North Carolina at the High Hampton Inn and Country a round of golf for two. The prize Club. Picture a romantic weekend with your love, with days doesn’t include alcohol, tax or gratuspent hand-in-hand walking through the scenic hemlock ity and expires Oct. 31, 2011. Please and mountain laurel-edged trails, and nights spent by the go to the giveaway section on our ﬁreplace gazing out at the moon and stars. And if that’s not Web site at www.ptsnorth.com to enough to get you packing your bags, then the mere perfect enter for the drawing of the prize. climate should be. By now the Georgia heat is starting to blast its fury, but with plenty of shaded areas and mountain breezes, North Carolina brings a little cooler weather and serenity to your life, especially since this resort doesn’t have any electronic devices such as telephones or televisions, leaving you with plenty of nature-driven activities to occupy you and your signiﬁcant other. For more information, visit www.highhamptoninn.com. — Sarah R. Bailey B

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PAWS FOR THE PLANET Earth Day tells us that if we take the proper precautions in protecting the environment, then it will be a better place for our children, and their children, to live in. So, as Americans, we went green. But what about our pets? Is there a way to reduce our pet’s carbon paw print? There is! The Foil Wyatt Architects joined with Atlanta-based Jova/Daniels/Busby Architects to make up FWAJDB Architects that are wholly devoted to giving the fancy on greening your furry-friends. Ideas such as recycling pet food containers, using eco-friendly waste disposing materials, buying collars, leashes and pet beds made of recycled materials, and adopting an animal from a shelter are all ways FWAJDB Architects are greening the animal kingdom. For all 10 ways to green your pet, visit www.fwajdb.com. — Sarah R. Bailey

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

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APRIL

GET COOKIN’

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE METROPOLITAN COOKING & ENTERTAINING SHOW

Giada De Laurentiis

Are y’all hungry? If so, head to the Cobb Galleria Centre on April 30 – May 1 to catch Paula Deen and Giada De Laurentiis of Food Network fame, plus more James Beard Award-nominated chefs as they bring their culinary expertise to Atlanta for The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show. In addition to product sampling and sales from more than 200 international and specialty food exhibitors, activities include book signings, a luncheon with Paula Deen, kids cooking classes, celebrity chef demonstrations, a beer, wine and spirits tent and tasting and entertainment workshops. General admission tickets are $22 in advance and $25 on-site. Children’s tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on-site per day. Additional tickets are required for special events and can be purchased online. For more information, call 703-321-4890 or visit www.metrocooking.com.

Paula Deen

Everything is coming up roses. And tulips. And daisies … and lilies! A bouquet of flowers has been the go-to product to say, “I Love You,” or “I’m Sorry,” or even “Just Because!” It’s what people send to show their love and appreciation or pick people up when they are down. Now with Organic Bouquet, a mission-based company focused on environmental, social and economic sustainability, the gift of flowers keeps on giving, even when the petals have wilted away. Ideal for celebrating Earth Day everyday, all Organic Bouquet flowers are organically grown and have been certified by third-party agencies such as the USDA, the Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance and more than 50 charities. This allows them to host a “Flowers for Good” page where a percentage of the proceeds from each purchase are donated to a coinciding charity. Organic Bouquet is fully committed to responsible practices in every step of production from the growers to the distribution to you. For more information, visit www.organicbouquet.com. — Sarah R. Bailey

GIVEAWAY WINNERS To ﬁnd a list of giveaway winners, take a look in the “Online Only” section of www.ptsnorth.com!

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ORGANIC BOUQUET

Flower Power

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APRIL

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW CEBULKA

GOURMET & GRAPES Combining local and national culinary talent with award-winning wineries and an amazing setting at The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the Third Annual Gourmet & Grapes promises to be an event you won’t want to miss. Activities include a Pro Am golf tournament on Friday followed by a black-tie dinner with celebrity Chef Norman Van Aken. The foodie fun starts all over again on Saturday with wine seminars throughout the day, capped no less by the highly anticipated Wine Odyssey and Grand Finale, a collection of ﬁrst class local and regional chefs from the Southeast featuring food stations on the Terrace Lawn overlooking the Atlantic Ocean! As if that isn’t enough to send you packing, the Jazz Brunch PHOTO COURTESY OF CYLE SUESZ held on the Grand Lawn on Sunday surely will. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend. And while your sophisticated side is enjoying the festivities, your altruistic side is too, because you will also be helping to raise funds and awareness that will ultimately beneﬁt the Medical University of South Carolina’s Hollings Cancer Center. This can’t-miss event will be held Friday, April 29 through Sunday, May 1. For more information, visit www.kiawahresort.com/special-events or call 800-654-2924.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CYLE SUESZ

GLEE GONE WILD Okay, maybe it’s not the real cast of “Glee,” but locals coming together to raise money for Huntington’s Disease research and families on behalf of Voices for Hope is music to anyone’s ears — or at least a good time for a great cause! Wild Bill’s is playing host to this karaoke sing-off on Saturday, April 16 from 7 to 11 p.m. The good, the bad and the atrocious (insert Simon Cowell voice here!) will sing their hearts out. Will you? Tickets are $10 in advance, and $15 at the door. For more information, visit www.wildbillsatlanta.com. — Sarah R. Bailey

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

GO ON A NATURE QUEST AT FERNBANK

PHOTO COURTESY OF FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Something exciting is stirring at Fernbank Museum of Natural History this spring. Recently, Fernbank unveiled its expansive new 7,000-square-foot children’s exhibition, NatureQuest, marking one of the most significant additions to the museum since the world’s largest dinosaurs roared onto the scene in 2001. This new $8 million exhibition will fascinate young visitors and their parents alike with more than 100 interactive encounters that travel through six iconic ecosystems representing 500 million years in geologic time. Children will turn into time-traveling Einsteins exploring the wonders of our natural world while learning about oceans, estuaries, swamps, forests, waterfalls, rivers and caves as they meet the fascinating array of animals that thrive there. From a working clubhouse among the trees, rope bridges and night vision goggles to a realistic archeology dig, a cave filled with fossils and geodes as well as our personal favorite — a simulated river that teems with fish that scatter when you “splash” in the water, your little ones will be busy as beavers on this quest of exploration. For more information, call 404-929-6300 or visit www.fernbankmuseum.org.

ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

TRIUMPH over TRAGEDY Northside Resident Lin Seahorn Shares Details of Her Struggle as a Survivor of Child Abuse and the Work She Is Doing Locally and Nationally to Change the Statistics [ WR I T T EN BY SAR A S HE LTO N ] Lin Seahorn

When I met

Lin Seahorn for the first time at her Alpharetta-based office, I was overwhelmed with the amount of comfort with which she welcomed me. She greeted me with a hug as she ushered me into her office, striking up conversation with a genuine ease. She eagerly shared stories about her husband Bill and their menagerie of pets, grabbing pictures off the wall and out of desk drawers to provide me with a visual of the cast of characters in her life. Hers is a home of warmth and laughter, an inviting and welcoming asylum from the outside world — and a stark contrast to the home she knew as a child. “I don’t remember a lot of happy times,” Seahorn explained. “I didn’t have books or dolls or things like most little girls. Times that should’ve been happy like Easter or Christmas were always scarred by domestic violence.”

She waits a beat and adds matterof-factly, “I don’t remember a time when there wasn’t severe abuse in my life.” Seahorn was one of the estimated 9 million children who suffer from child abuse each year. The fourth of six children, she grew up with an absentee father and a mother who she believes struggled with addiction and rage. After her parents’ divorce and mother’s subsequent remarriage, the family began a series of moves that kept them bouncing between housing projects, subsidized housing and more suburban areas. Seahorn and her siblings lived under the constant fear of the verbal, emotional and physical abuse from their mother. “There wasn’t a day that went by that our house was not ﬁlled with screaming or

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CHILDREN WITHOUT A VOICE 14

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

madness,” she said. “This would always escalate from shouting into throwing things which led to the physical, the punching and kicking. My mother would turn her rage on us and she was just brutal.” A Not So Safe Haven For the duration of her childhood, Seahorn endured this abuse on a daily basis. Around age 11, her mother abruptly booted her from the home, directing her to the bus stop and sending her to live with the father she had never known. What could have been a safe

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Child abuse survivors Dalton and Seth at last year’s CWAV golf fundraiser.

Lin Seahorn

to realize she was not alone in her circumstances, and it was here that the seeds of her current work were planted.

CWAV Founder Lin Seahorn with child abuse survivor, Katie, during a pie eating contest.

haven from the abusive home she had left behind was instead a return to the fear and vulnerability she had already known. “The violence and sexual abuse began almost immediately,” she explained of her time living with her father, “I was horriﬁed.” Soon, Seahorn mustered up the courage to tell a teacher what was happening behind closed doors at her home. As a result, she was taken out of her father’s custody and introduced into what she calls “the revolving foster care system.” Initially, there was no place for her in this system and as a result, the state placed her in a juvenile detention facility. Here she found no haven from abuse. “I was put with these girls who were in trouble for stealing or doing drugs and they beat me up on a daily basis. I knew I TEE IT UP FOR KIDS Join Children Without a Voice in their efforts to prevent crime against children this month at “Tee it Up for Kids.” The golf fundraiser takes place April 25 at Bear’s Best Golf Course in Suwanee and includes lunch, dinner, auctions, raffles and awards. Call 404-474-4020 or email email@childrenwithoutavoiceusa.org to sign up, or simply to donate money.

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

didn’t belong there. I wasn’t delinquent, I was just unwanted and that was the worst feeling I had ever felt,” she said. Eventually, at her stepfather’s imploring, her mother consented to take Seahorn out of the center and back into their home. But upon her return, she found no reprieve from the abuse she had previously known. She was continually berated and beaten and on the worst nights, she was shut up in the tiny crawl-space attic of their home. Here she was left all night, and instructed not to move for fear she would fall through the floor. This particular experience Seahorn recalled as “one of the worst emotional abuses I ever endured.” Her life continued in this cycle until her mother, again, made the abrupt decision to have Seahorn out of the house. “She just decided she didn’t want to deal with me anymore,” she recalled. “With my little brother crying in the backseat, my stepfather dropped me off on the front steps of a local orphanage and left me there to stay.” In this Ohio-based orphanage, Seahorn was one of 500 other unwanted children, many of whom came from more troubled backgrounds than hers. She began

The Beginning of Recovery In time, Seahorn completed enough high school course work to graduate at the age of 16. (She is the only one in her family to boast the accomplishment of graduation.) She traveled to Tennessee, where she attended college and set about the work of overcoming her past. This was a task easier said than done. “I had now had a taste of good things in my life but still, I was plagued by so many feelings — emptiness, loneliness, constantly wondering why no one wanted me. I struggled with insecurity and trust issues. I entered into my own cycle of addiction and abusive relationships because this was all I knew.” She sighed and continued with conﬁdence, “But then I rediscovered a faith in God. I realized one day [that] I deserved better things and I just knew I would not let anyone else control me or abuse me anymore.” From that point, Seahorn never looked back. With this newfound faith in God and a renewed sense of self-esteem, she moved forward to achieve the success and peace she now enjoys. She became a successful entrepreneur and, later, an executive sales trainer for a Fortune 100 company. She met her husband Bill some 12 years ago and together, they embarked on the most important journey of her life: the development and growth of her organization, Children Without a Voice USA. Changing the Statistics Seahorn, now 52, has no children of her own, but takes her job of helping children

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Lin Seahorn all around the United States to heart. In 2007, she founded Children Without a Voice (CWAV), a national organization dedicated to raising the awareness of and preventing crimes against children, child abuse and neglect through advocacy and education. She and her staff of nearly 70 volunteers work diligently to raise awareness about and advocate against crimes committed against children. Together they provide classes as well as offer educational materials on all subjects affecting children ranging from neglect and hunger to sexual abuse and bullying. “There are four types of abuse: physical, emotional, sexual and neglect,” she explained. “Typically, one form does not occur without another and it is our goal at CWAV to educate parents and children about each of these in an effort to prevent them from occurring.” Along with education, the team at CWAV serves as advocates for abused and neglected children around the United States. Just last year, they followed close to 400 cases of crimes against children, e-mailing state prosecutors and judges on a regular basis to appeal for tougher sentencing on the abuser. “People who commit crimes against children in the U.S. typically face about 25 percent of the sentence of someone who commits a crime against an adult. We appeal to the prosecutors, the judges, anyone involved in these cases to fight against such a light sentence. And almost always, we get a response,” Seahorn said. When she speaks about CWAV and the work to change the child abuse statistics in this country, she does so with an infectious passion. When asked why she wanted to start the organization she stated simply, “One day I just knew that this was the purpose of all I’d been through.” “I am proud to know Lin and to have worked with her,” CWAV endorser Robert Orange stated of working with Seahorn in her endeavors. “She is inspiring … and

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

makes everyone else a better err person.” Former board member err Adam Bowen echoes this sentiment ntt and passion. “Throughout my time with w this organizaanizanizan tion, I have seen Lin n accomplish a tr ttremendous things in the name ame of CWAV’s CWA CWAV AV cause. A Her tireless dedication ion to the cause ca cau of protecting children is infectious. infectious.” nfectious u The main goal of the organization is to break what she calls the “bubble of silence” that exists in communities and neighborhoods in our country today. “My neighbors always knew what was going on in our house when I was a kid and no one ever said a word,” she said. “Nothing has changed today. People are living in their own bubbles. We don’t want to know our neighbors, we don’t want to offend or insert ourselves in their business for fear of awkwardness. It is very uncomfortable to accuse someone of child abuse, but consider how great and uncomfortable the cost of not reporting [it].” CWAV’s emphasis on abuse prevention through education extends from inner city neighborhoods into the more affluent, suburban areas where many think this kind of abuse and neglect of children would never occur. “Child abuse crosses all socio-economic lines. It’s not just in the projects or in the impoverished, struggling communities. It is a silent epidemic, hidden all over our neighborhoods. Almost all the social ills we see in society today can be traced back to some form of child abuse and these have no geographic, financial boundaries,” she said. Looking Ahead Seahorn and her team at CWAV are hoping to raise an even stronger team of volunteers to take on the work of fighting the war against child abuse. Through this combination of education and advocacy, they are training adults to recognize the signs of child abuse and encouraging them to speak up, to shatter the silence that covers

N AT I O N A L C H I LD A B U S E H OT LI N E S April is Child Abuse Awareness Month so rem remember, em eme me ber help can be just a phone call away. Calls to th thes these hotlines are anonymous: N National Hotline For Children 00-999-9999 00 800-999-9999 our Crisis Hotline o ou ine ne fo for Parents 24 Hour 22 2-4453 800-422-4453 Domestic Abuse see Hotlinee National Do 333 800-799-7233

this epidemic. In 2011, theyy are looking 2 king ngg to obtain much-needed funding ded de e additional additt and recruit more volunteers across the unte t nation to serve as a voice for the vulnerable children in the States. “We need more voices, more advocates,” Seahorn asserted. “We are failing our kids in this country by not raising our voices and not doing our job as adults to protect them. Imagine what our country could look like in the future if we started taking care of our children and speaking up for the vulnerable rather than ignoring them.” Though she has come so far from the vulnerable child she once was, Seahorn is quick to state that the effects of child abuse still linger and will undoubtedly last a lifetime. In her own life, she looks to her faith as an anchor and tries to actively exercise the compassion to others that was lacking in her own childhood. “Every day I wake up and am thankful. I want to focus on the positive, on what I do have instead of what I didn’t have for so many years. And I want children and families to learn about values, what it means to truly care for others and what compassion looks like in action,” Seahorn related. Looking around her office littered with pictures and stories of the children she has helped, I think it’s safe to say Seahorn is doing just that. PN

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N Children Without A Voice www.childrenwithoutavoiceusa.org

FARM fresh [ W R I T T E N BY B RE H UM P H RI E S ]

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAM SHELDON

Cumming’s CANE CREEK FARM Offers Access to C E R T I F I E D N AT U R A L LY G R O W N P R O D U C E through Community Supported Agriculture and Organic Gardening Classes

These days,

it seems like Pugh explained. This means all of Cane Creek Farm’s produce is grown using ecologically sensitive methods, convenience is often our top priority when it comes to is chemical-free and is not genetically modified. produce. Thanks to mass production and the global farming industry, we can get any fruit or vegetable we Seeds of a Dream want any time of year at any corner grocery store … but When Pugh and her husband, Chuck, bought the land are we really doing ourselves any favors? There is plenty around the trickling waters of of evidence to support the benefits Cane Creek in western Forsyth of consuming local and organic County in 1986, they had a few produce as opposed to the mainpets and a garden, but the fullstream stuff tainted by pesticides operation farm was merely a seed and fertilizers. in their minds. So why don’t we make pro“I always had a dream of duce a priority? Perhaps we’re being sustainable,” Pugh said. unaware of the difference in But at the time, she was busy quality, or we just don’t know teaching chemistry and biology where to go to buy locally grown in the local school system and produce. Luckily, metro Atlanraising her family. tans in Forsyth, North Fulton and “I was a gardener, and I garCherokee counties need to look no PHOTO COURTESY OF CANE CREEK FARM dened every summer,” she said. “I farther than Cane Creek Farm, a had experience growing things, but certainly no expe17.5-acre, certified naturally grown farm in Cumming, rience farming … but I did have a Masters Degree in where owner Lynn Pugh is not only growing good quality plant pathology, and of course the science degree gives produce for the community, she’s educating its residents you a lot of fundamental knowledge that you need to on the importance of organic farming practices. know to farm.” “Certified Naturally Grown is a grassroots orgaIn 2001, Pugh left her teaching career behind and nization that holds farmers to the same standards as began dabbling more in farming, but it wasn’t until organic, but without the involvement of the government,” ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

PHOTO COURTESY OF CANE CREEK FARM

she and her husband returned from a two-year stint at the Scott Airforce Base in Illinois, where Chuck was called to service after 9/11, that Cane Creek Farm truly emerged. When she got back, Pugh took a part-time job with Georgia Organics to develop a marketing manual for the organization’s use, a two-year project that involved interviewing farmers and gaining insight into how local farms operated. In the meantime, she began to focus more energy on her own farm, as well. In 2003, Pugh began growing produce for the local farmers market, and by 2005, she ofﬁcially launched her Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program with a small group of friends. Now, Cane Creek produces 50 to 60 types of fruits and vegetables. Behind Pugh’s house, you’ll ﬁnd

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

blueberries, apples and figs, while by the road grapes, blackberries, strawberries and garlic grow. Peas and potatoes pop up on the hill, and a variety of other vegetables, like peppers, eggplant and broccoli, rotate between 1/4-acre blocks. There’s also an herb garden, flowers like zinnia, gladiolas and sunflowers blooming out front and, of course, the requisite farm animals, like chickens, sheep and cows. Give a Man a Plant For consumers, the best way to access Cane Creek Farm’s produce is through its CSA, a year-round program that connects the farm and members of the community through a mutually beneficial arrangement. Subscribers pay the farm a seasonal membership fee to cover costs

CU M M I N G LO C A LLY G R OW N What if you want to incorporate local produce into your diet, but aren’t ready to commit to a full season CSA? An on-market farm is open at Cane Creek on Wednesday mornings, though the selection is limited to whatever is left over after CSA members have received their shares. The best way to buy locally on an as-needed basis, Pugh said, is to peruse the produce available on The Cumming Harvest, a Web site that brings together a variety of local farmers and food purveyors to sell their goods in one convenient place year-round. Consumers can click through all the available items each week on Wednesday and Thursday, then pick up their purchases all together at the North Georgia Autism Center on Highway 9 in Cumming on Saturday mornings. The combined effort of Pugh and her colleague Suzanne Geddes, The Cumming Market features items such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, prepared goods and even bath and beauty products, all produced without chemicals. Participating vendors include Cane Creek Farm, Canton’s Ancient Path’s Farm, Cumming’s Artisanal Bread and Soup, Kennesaw’s Costa’s Pasta and Suwanee’s Goodness Gracious! Granola, among others. www.cumming.locallygrown.net

O N LI N E E XC LU S I V E Visit us online at www.ptsnorth.com for a list of even more CSA programs in metro Atlanta, plus a few recipes featuring seasonal, farm-fresh

of production and, in turn, receive produce. a share of the harvest during that season. Typically, each week’s share ﬁlls one reusable shopping bag, though the weight will vary depending on what has been harvested. For instance, lighter produce like lettuces, arugula and greens are abundant in the winter, while vegetables like tomatoes, squash and potatoes show up during the peak of summer. “[CSA members] get a share of whatever I’m growing … we aim to have somewhere between eight and 12 different vegetables [each week],” Pugh said. The $400 fee for summer and fall seasons, which last 12 weeks each, breaks down to about $33 per week, and CSA members can expect the value of each weeks’ share to at least meet that amount. An added bonus is the option for members to pick their own herbs, or add fresh cut ﬂowers to their shares for an additional fee. Judy Robson of Johns Creek got involved with Cane Creek Farm last March and has been a dedicated CSA member ever since. “For the past few years, I had just wanted to go down a healthier track with my eating. And for me that involved not only eating healthier foods, namely more greens, fruits and vegetables, but also looking to eliminate — as much as I could — the pesticides that are in conventional foods,” she explained. ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

Cane Creek Farm

“[There is] a higher purpose of why I think this is

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The health-factor may be Robson’s top priority, but she’s discovered an immediate benefit, as well. “The food tastes better!” she happily emphasized. Robson said she has always been interested in cooking, but the program has altered her former attitude toward menu planning and opened her eyes to new ingredients. “Now I’m eating with the seasons, and it’s helping to dictate my menu. And I find that very refreshing,” she said. “I think we all get stuck in a rut sometimes, we all fix what we grew up eating. There are so many great things out there to eat, and it’s just a matter maybe of seeing what’s in your CSA bag and saying, ‘look at that, what am I going to do with that,’” she continued, pointing out that the Internet is an excellent source for uncovering recipes that feature her newfound favorites. To help CSA members plan meals around their weekly produce, Pugh sends out a newsletter detailing goings-on at the farm and what to expect in their shares. For those who want to get involved directly in the farm’s operations, Cane Creek employs a limited number of CSA volunteers, like Robson, who exchange work — mostly help with the labor-intensive harvest — for vegetables. “It’s a great deal for me, because I’m getting to learn from Lynn, I’m outside getting great exercise, and at the end of the day I go home with a nice big bag of food that we’ve harvested that day,” Robson said. It just doesn’t get any fresher than that. Teach a Man to Plant Though Pugh’s primary purpose is to sell her own produce, she’s also committed to educating her community about organic practices. With another Education Specialist degree in science curriculum, Pugh also assisted Georgia Organics with the development of a curriculum on organic

farming that they could distribute to state agriculture teachers, and she uses that same curriculum to teach organic farming and gardening courses for adults at Cane Creek. The seven-class courses meet every other Saturday twice a year and combine instruction with hands-on experience that can be put into practice by both the serious farmer and the backyard gardener. “[Lynn] is such an intelligent person, and she has so much to pass on to all of us,” said Robson, who took the course last fall. “What a great background for growing the healthiest food you can grow without using herbicides and pesticides.” For those who are interested in organic farming and gardening, but are not able to invest in the full course, Cane Creek offers a one-day workshop each spring, which takes place this month on April 9. “We focus on three things: soils, insects and planting,” Pugh explained. Students have the opportunity to make soil mixes, move up tomato plants and make their own garlic insect repellents, and the day ends with a vegetarian lunch prepared by Pugh’s mother using fresh ingredients from the farm. And starting this summer, Cane Creek will provide similar experiences for little farmers-in-the-making at their very ﬁ rst summer camp for kids ages 8 through 12 this June. “The purpose is to connect [the kids] to their food, to help them understand where their food comes from,” Pugh said.

Drs. Fabian, West, McNeel and Hanna

Regardless of age, community members can learn a lot from Cane Creek Farm. “I believe in farming in such a way as to promote the health of the land and our community by providing good, nutritious food grown with ecologically sound practices,” Pugh explained. “[There is] a higher purpose of why I think this is important,” she continued. “I want to grow the good food for people, but I also want to educate people on how to grow their own good food, the necessity of that. This is kind of a spiritual thing, of connecting. This is the world we’re given and we need to make it better, not make it worse.” PN

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N At press time, summer CSA shares were still available for purchase. To sign up, or to learn more about Cane Creek Farm, visit www.canecreekfarm.net.

ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

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flower power

200,000 WATTS OF

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The B OTA N I C A L GA R D EN UNV EI LS

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to C ELEB RA TE TH E B EA UTY of a SOUTHERN SPRING

From poets to painters and everyone in between,

“Earth laughs

in ﬂowers.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN

the power of the flower is legendary. It lifts our spirits, makes us smile, and leaves the earth a bit rosier than it was before. And thankfully, spring flowers are peeping up all over the city, but nowhere as beautiful as at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, which recently unveiled its new Atlanta Blooms! event. Through May 1, a fanciful extravaganza of thousands of tulips, daffodils and other beautiful bulbs will burst forth from the earth and sing a chorus of color. Last fall, the garden doubled its number of spring-blooming bulbs, planting an additional 100,000 new bulbs, including 70,000 tulips to create a “Dutch-like spectacle unlike any in the Southeast.” Kaleidoscope of Color Along with tulips and daffodils, Atlanta Blooms will highlight other Southern bulb beauties like hyacinth and crocus, as well as the garden’s existing pansies, phlox, daphne, spring wildflowers, native azaleas and deciduous magnolias to ensure a springtime symphony of color. “Spring is already so beautiful here, and we just really wanted to highlight the season for people,” said Display Gardens Manager Amanda Campbell. “We wanted to amp it up and really give people a wow this spring.” The garden will also come alive with large, whimsical topiaries sure to spark the ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

Atlanta Blooms

Last fall, the garden doubled its number of spring-blooming bulbs, planting an additional 100,000 new bulbs, including 70,000 tulips to create a “Dutch-like spectacle unlike any in the Southeast.”

imaginati of guests. These larger-than-life figures imagination include a 5-foot tall owl with a 9-foot wingspan, a tree and 5-foot flowers. 10-foot tr 10“In the th Edible Garden we will have a large 10-foot tall garden woman and her clothes will be planted with gar violas and an other plants,” Campbell added. a lot of events and weekend activities for “We We have h familiess aand children,” she continued. “With Atlanta Blooms,, we w do hope to make it an annual tradition and we also hope it spreads through the Midtown area. h We would ld really like for this to become a community celebration.” celebration ion too, can catch flower fever with the fun And d you, y events go going on this season. goi “During Atlanta Blooms we have a lot of informal “Dur Du activities viti and educational opportunities,” confi rmed Heather public programs manager. “Voluneath Holmes, H teers teer will be set up in the garden to teach people more about planting bulbs. We will also be making some a pla wildflower owe seed bombs. It’s a mixture of clay, compost and seeds and you make a little ‘bomb’ and let it dry in

Points North | April 2011 | ptsn ptsnorth.com

the sun, and then throw it somewhere where you want to grow wildﬂowers. It’s kind of like an urban guerrilla gardening technique where you can throw it on a property you want to beautify or you can throw it in your back yard.” There will also be opportunities to do some container gardening where guests can make a grouping and take it home. And through April 10, the annual Orchid Daze exhibition will dazzle guests as thousands of stunning orchids ﬂoat in dramatic water features, so don’t dawdle — get to the Atlanta Blooms event early in the month. If you haven’t been to the garden in years, there’s a lot you’ve missed. Two years ago, the renovated Southern Seasons Garden and spectacular new visitor’s center, gift shop and parking facility opened, which now faces the beautiful Piedmont Park instead of Piedmont Avenue, making for a picturesque arrival. And last year, the garden doubled its size to 30 acres by adding a treetop canopy walk that accesses 15 acres of woodlands, the Cascades Garden, and an Edible Garden with an

outdoor kitchen for special events. And new this month, MetroFresh will be opening a café in the newly renovated former entrance and gift shop area, offering a spot to enjoy fresh, healthy food in the charming courtyard. The garden’s previous outdoor café will be converted into a snack shop for those who want to eat on the go. Gourmet In May To celebrate the ﬁrst anniversary of the popular Edible Garden, the Gourmet in May event will be chocked full of foodie delights and special programs. “We really want to get the message out about fresh food and eating healthy, so we are starting a Gourmet in May program that will immediately follow Atlanta Blooms,” Campbell conﬁrmed. “We are trying to target multiple audiences with Gourmet in May,” Holmes added. “We will have programs for children and families, we will target the foodies by bringing in some fun chefs and also [gardeners] to teach how to incorporate an edible garden in ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

PHOTO COURTESY OF ISTOCKPHOTO.COM | MARK WRAGG

Atlanta Blooms

C R E AT E A S P R I N G S A LUTE I N YO U R OW N B AC K YA R D Let’s get planting, Atlanta! Amanda Campbell, display gardens manager of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, offers these five handy bulb-planting tips for hybrid tulips and daffodils. 1. Plan one year out by visiting public and private gardens in spring to cultivate ideas for your next year display. One tip: like annuals, bulbs are best planted in sweeps and masses, so avoid rows for optimum effect. 2. Shop for bulbs in mid- to late-summer so they can be planted in time for fall, in October and November. Select the largest bulbs available and store in refrigerator until fall because bulbs need a chilling period of four to six weeks. (Note: Some bulbs are sold “pre-chilled.”) Avoid rot by storing in mesh or paper bags so bulbs are ventilated. 3. Extend the bloom season by purchasing daffodils varieties that flower early-, mid- and latespring. 4. Plant bulbs in full sun in well-drained soil at a depth of twice the height of the bulb, positioned with the pointed end up. 5. After flowering in spring, tulip bulbs are best removed and composted because, for the most part, they will not bloom a second year. Daffodils, on the other hand, should be left in the ground for subsequent seasons of blooms. Spent blossoms can be deadheaded, but do not prune unsightly foliage as the leaves need several weeks to photosynthesize, storing energy for producing next year’s bloom.

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

your own home.” During “Edible Lessons” guests can taste nibbles fresh from the Edible Garden, local farms and restaurants and learn about canning, pickling and preserving. Other events include a Make and Take: Herb Container Garden, Food and Wine for Warm Weather as well as a Chef Series in the outdoor kitchen and the Neighborhood Nosh Series where chefs from Atlanta’s favorite restaurants provide a rare opportunity to learn how to create their signature dishes, which both continue through October. Looking to enjoy the garden on a summer night? Grab a glass and toast the Cocktails in the Garden on Thursday evenings through September by sampling light bites prepared each month by an area chef while sipping cocktails and listening to deejay music. And children can get in on the foodie fun during the Garden Breakfast event, where young chefs whip up tasty breakfast dishes featuring produce grown from the garden and the Gourmet Parfait, where kids will learn how to make granola, strawberry sauce and yogurt from scratch. “We are really excited about our Edible Garden programming this year,” Holmes said. “Last year we were just getting our

feet wet and it all went really well so this year we are deﬁnitely doubling if not tripling the programming so there will many opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoor kitchen, and cooking demonstrations and learning about edible gardening.” But before you gobble up goodies in May, drink up the color in April. It’s the beginning of a springtime ritual for families to enjoy year after year. “Atlanta Blooms is going to be spectacular,” Holmes exclaimed. “It’s going to be a huge color explosion with a major impact. You won’t want to miss it!” Spring has sprung, and a flower is never more cherished than after a cold, long winter. So gather up the family and welcome spring by walking among a rainbow of tulips. PN

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N Atlanta Botanical Garden Open Tuesday through Sundays. Closed Mondays, except on Monday holidays, like Memorial Day 1345 Piedmont Ave NE Atlanta 404-876-5859 www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

30 31 32 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

IDE OF LIFE RUN ON THE WILD S ITING QUESTS WITH THESE EXC IN GEORGIA AND BEYOND [ W R I TTE N BY H A L E Y M C N E A L ]

Ahh … April

is ﬁnally here! That means longer days and warmer weather and while it might not surprise you anymore, we’ve planted eight more exciting adventures sure to shower your quest for something new this season. These outings will take you from the rivers of the Peach State to the chilly waters of Alaska, so if this warm weather has you feeling like we are — itching to get in the sunlight, get a few grass stains on our jeans and bravely go where many fun-loving souls have gone before — then get moving and embark on what could be your best spring ﬂing ever. We’re thinking pink this month, too, and it has nothing to do with flowers! Adding to our list of fabulous adventure giveaways is a complimentary Diamondback Gulch Tour for two people with Pink Jeep Tours. Check out all the giveaways here: http://www.ptsnorth.com/content/index.php/magazine/adventures.html

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Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

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living spaces

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Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF HUTCHESON HORTICULTURAL CO.

eled to Greece for a whirlwind week of exploring the historic birthplace of civilization and roaming the coastline bordering the Aegean Sea. It was on that trip that we discovered a passion for steamy gyros dripping with cucumber sauce, red ripe tomatoes splashed with olive oil and topped with ample amounts of feta cheese. But Greece also introduced us to another lifelong passion — dining al fresco. At midday, we dined under vinecovered pergolas amid ancient buildings. In the evenings, we shared meals, sipped wine and enjoyed the remains of the day underneath a million twinkling stars — all the while breathing in the fresh, Southern European air. Upon our return to Georgia, we created a lively, organic outdoor space within the boundaries of our own back yard and spent many pleasant evenings entertaining guests by candlelight in our open-air retreat.

Like my husband and I, more and more homeowners are extending the comfort and luxury of their homes into the great outdoors, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor living spaces. They are adding expansive limestone patios with plush furniture; lofty, craftsman-style pergolas; mammoth stacked stone ﬁreplaces; cascading water features; meticulous landscaping; and vanishing edge pools with crystal clear waters that seem to stretch to the horizon. The rising popularity of these functional outdoor living spaces doesn’t surprise landscape designers and architects. “People love to gather with friends and family, and Atlanta’s climate is perfect for outdoor living and entertaining,” remarked Hugh Dixon, owner of StoneAge Stonescapes, LLC in Atlanta’s Northside. “It’s mild enough most of the year to be outside in short sleeves.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF SANCTUM DESIGN

And today’s designs incorporate heat-generating elements like fire pits, wood-burning fireplaces, or freestanding patio heaters that allow families to gather outdoors even during Atlanta’s cold snaps.” Dixon also notes that manufacturers finally caught up with the public’s demand, developing new, sophisticated product lines of outdoor appliances, furnishings, fixtures, accessories and electronics with varying styles and price tags. “The options are truly endless today,” he said. “With a little professional help, homeowners can create fabulous outdoor living spaces that are just as comfortable and inviting as the inside of their homes.”

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Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

Before calling an expert, consider how the space will be used. Will the area be devoted to having guests over in the evenings to sip wine and talk politics in front of a crackling fire pit? Or is the vision more a small, solitary nook surrounded by nature to relax with a good book and a warm cup of tea? A pool and a guest cottage? An outdoor kitchen capable of preparing gourmet meals? Or all of the above? It’s not unusual for back yards to embody several livable spaces outside, each with its own defined purpose. Tom Flowers, CEO of Atlanta’s Sanctum Design Group, emphasized the importance of considering your personal needs and desires before diving into a project. “Designing outdoor space is very similar to designing interior space. The first thing to define is what’s the purpose. How is the [homeowner] really planning on using it? What does their lifestyle suggest? What is important to them?” he said. “The minimum that any project around a home should do is improve someone’s lifestyle.” Next, talk to friends, neighbors and family members about their outdoor living spaces and ask them what works and what doesn’t work for their families. Collect photographs, advertisements and pictures of outdoor designs and elements that are particularly appealing.

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Finally, consider budgetary constraints. Transforming a boring back yard into a multifunctional outdoor oasis can be quite pricey. In fact, many homeowners choose to tackle large-scale projects one outdoor room at a time.

{ Sipping Pina Coladas Poolside } “Because of North Georgia’s varying elevations, you have to be able to visualize a project in three dimensions,” noted John Byrd, owner of John Byrd Designs, which specializes in pool and spa design in metro Atlanta. “There is inherent beauty in the natural rise and fall of a back yard. The changes draw the eyes around the space, making the area more interesting. [Pool designs should] work with nature — not against it.” Simple rectangular swimming pools are no longer en vogue, John Martinez, owner of Kennesaw-based Alison Pools, confirmed. “Cookie cutter pools are a dime by the dozen, but [most customers] want to add a little personality to it,” he said. New materials and techniques allow designers to customize pools to accommodate specific outdoor spaces. Byrd recommends unique profiles that merge with existing terrain and architecture — curves, 44

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF SWEETLAND OUTDOOR

changes in elevations, cascading water features, sprays and lots of natural stone. Indeed, more organic pool environments brimming with boulders, rock formations and large timbers are quite trendy today. “Grand pool spaces are very popular now,” Byrd said, adding that many customers are interested in fully functional pool spaces with elements like customdesigned pool and spa, hot tubs, ﬁreplaces, lounging areas, dining areas, garden walls and elaborate pool houses. “Homeowners are looking to build a destination in their own back yard — a place where they can entertain other adults and where all the kids in the neighborhood want to congregate,” he said. And unlike the pools of the past, Byrd added that today’s pools are more attractive, cleaner, healthier, use less chemicals and require less maintenance. To get the most use out of your pool, Martinez suggests investing in elements that will allow you to enjoy it year-round. “Due to the cost of gas, heat pumps [and solar heating systems] are trending the

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As you plan your backyard renovation, don’t forget your kids. Creating a dedicated play zone in your yard will provide years of fun, safe entertainment and exercise for your children or grandchildren.

“The average size of a play area surrounded by a safety zone is 25-feet wide and 30-feet long,” said Arthur Siriani, owner of Sweetland Outdoor Furniture & Swing Set Co. in Alpharetta. “Of course, each family’s needs, budget and yard size varies, so we offer playground sets with several different footprints and conﬁgurations.” The playhouses come in several styles and sizes and can be

painted to match your home,” he added. “And homeowners buy them for different reasons. We’ve sold some that were used for dogs, chickens, and even pet pigs!” From swings, play towers and forts to slides, basketball goals and mini rock climbing walls, parents have a ton of kid-friendly

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way to go,” he said. “They’re a little more expensive to put in, but operationally, they save you money in the long run. If you choose not to put these in, you’re going to spend more to operate the pool.”

{ Chillin’ While Grillin’ }

Long gone are the days of backyard entertaining with the flimsy charcoal grill, the red picnic table and the webbed aluminum frame lawn chairs. Today’s outdoor kitchens are magnificent spectacles rivaling their indoor kitchen cousins in style, design and features. “Outdoor kitchens are fully functional spaces today,” Dixon said. “Homeowners want something big and beautiful with all the bells and whistles — built-in grills, refrigerators, pizza ovens, wine coolers, sinks, ice makers, warming drawers, under counter storage, food preparation space, lighting, stereo systems and more.” “It’s still so much about the grill — it’s really the focal point,” he adds. “That’s why all the big appliance makers are in the game now — Viking, Kitchen Aid, Fire Magic, Kenmore — they all have outdoor grill product lines.” Today’s sizzling outdoor kitchens are defined spaces crafted and constructed from natural materials. Dull, gray concrete

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{ Landscaping – A Fine Balance } Considering how your outdoor room will blend into the existing environment is another top priority, Flowers said. “Once you deﬁne the purpose of the space, you then examine the surrounding environment,” he said. “This includes existing architecture, the existing trees, the existing slopes, the existing features, the solar orientation — which way the sun goes. You examine the entire site and you ﬁnd out what it suggests it wants to be.” “Modern landscape design creates balance in yards,” added Scott Chatham, founder of Chatham Landscape Services in Marietta. “Today’s homeowners want to combine beauty with usable space. They

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want low maintenance flower gardens, natural hardscapes that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing, and grassy areas large enough for their kids to kick a soccer ball around.” Chatham’s prefers chic, sustainable landscape designs — stepping stones meandering through patches of brighteyed Shasta daisies and fragrant rosemary, robust stands of Knock Out roses, stone steps climbing a gentle hill encased by day lilies and ornamental grasses, a host of hosta plants surrounding a towering, old oak, and crepe myrtles, hibiscus plants, and begonias lining a majestic black iron fence. He focuses on well-deﬁned zones, making it easy to see where one space ends and another begins. “You can also use plants to frame your outdoor spaces,” Chatham said. “For example, you can use evergreens as a backdrop to deﬁne a space’s boundary. Then layer in other plants in front of the evergreens.” Carolyn Akers, landscape architect with Hutcheson Horticultural Co. in Woodstock, pointed out the plants you choose depend upon the light conditions in your yard, and the best landscapes tend to have a mixture of full and partial sun as well as shade. “We like to plant things that will bloom at different times of the

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year. Seasonal interest is key,” Akers said. “Something that will provide good color and fragrance as well as attract birds.” If you are interested in creating a Southern garden oasis, consider planting trees, plants and ﬂowers that thrive in our climate and soil like magnolias, hydrangeas, camellias, azaleas and hosta, she said. And just because you don’t have a level ground to create your outdoor room, don’t be discouraged. Sometimes amazing landscape solutions can create the outdoor room of your dreams. Akers is working with a client now where a steep patio helped create a beautiful feature element in the design. “Our client has a steep grade from an upper patio to lower patio, so we’ve incorporated a four tier waterfall that helps create the sound and ambiance to drown out everything around.” Chatham concluded, “Enhancing the visual appeal and usefulness of outdoor spaces around a home adds so much value to life, and it adds to the resale value of a home, as well.” PN

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t TRAVEL Baltimore

Baltimore is Fun, Hon! An Editor Goes Undercover in the Land of Boas, Beehives and Water Taxis [ W R I T T E N BY H E AT H E R K W B R O W N ]

PHOTO COUR

TESY OF KRISTE

N OAKLEY

Heather right and Kristen making their debut as “Hons” at HonFest 2010

landmark. And, yes, on any other day in any other place, seeing women with rollers in their hair and slippers on their feet as they walked through the streets might have left me hailing the nearest cab. At this point in the game, however, I could cast no stones. I had just stepped out of a taxi wearing a sheer, life-sized doily adorned with dusty, rust-colored velvet ﬂowers covering a split pea soup-hued dress, “accessorized” no less, by a necklace that resembled a once-upon-a-time Bedrock special bought for Wilma

given that infamous vote of conﬁdence: “You can’t miss it.” While past experience has proven otherwise, in this particular case, I feel obligated to thank the hula-hoop toting, housecoat-clad lady with knee-high panty hose rolled just above her ankles. She was right. We couldn’t miss a scrawny bird the color of cotton candy and the size of a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade blimp attached above our starting point at Café Hon, a 1960s diner and Baltimore

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN WAIRE PHOTOGRAPHY

e were told to look for the ﬂamingo, then

Look for this ﬂamingo, Hon!

ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

| BALTIMORE PHOTO COURTESY OF HEATHER KW BROWN

travel

Flintstone. Beside me was one of my college girlfriends equally dressed the part in a fuchsia-colored polyester prom dress and its matching powerlifting belt. Operating under the mantra “strength in numbers,” we were a sight to behold and we were almost ready to participate in Baltimore’s hugely popular HonFest.

At the Glamour Lounge in the hands of Sue Ebert, the “Updo Diva”

LE A R N DA LI N G O, H O N HonFest will be held June 10 – 12. Better be ready with some Bawlmerese:

t When you get to Café Hon, tell the waitress you’d like an “Aig, scrambled, with sum Arnjuice.” t When she comes back, you might hear: “Jeet-nuf?” If not, try the “Cole Race Beef” t You also might hear about the “ersters” in Murlin t When nature calls, the fastest way to relief is to ask somebody for the “turlets” t While you’re in the “baffrum,” you’ll “proly” hear someone ask for a towel as in “wooja hanme a tal, hon?” t The traffic around HonFest is “turble,” sometimes even “harble” — it’s the “torst” t At the Glamour Lounge, people will look in the “meer” and talk on their “phanes” t If you see a Hon wearing “sumpen” you want, “ga hed” and say, “wayment, wurjagitdat?” t When counting “corters,” it t

helps to know that “ﬁtty” is halfway to “hunnert” Whatever you do, don’t forget your “cammer” and be sure to “set” when you “git tarred.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN WAIRE PHOTOGRAPHY

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

Head to Hampden, Hon It could have been an unscripted “Saturday Night Live” skit — only this was the real deal. The two of us had temporarily traded our comfy jeans and T-shirts for an otherwise unthinkable dress, an auburn wig that must have measured close to a foot above my head when I finally stopped laughing hard enough to keep it on, pink feather boas and cheap cat-eye glasses. As we anxiously waited inside the highly anticipated Glamour Lounge, we watched as hairstylists worked their magic, transforming boring everyday hair into beehives bolstered by bobby pins and an endless amount of hairspray. Women of all ages were in line, cackling excitedly about what seemed like a rite of passage to fully embrace the spirit of HonFest. Hon, as you might guess, is short for Honey, and much like the gems that stem from our own good-natured Southern “slanguage,” Hon is a “Bawlmer” term of endearment. The distinct accent is a hoot, and when paired with a friendly yet sassy “hon” at the end of a sentence, the sentiment becomes catchy, almost habitual, for everyone in this self-satirical scene. What originated in 1994 as a tiny pageant recognizing Baltimore’s Best Hon by Denise Whiting, owner of Café Hon and its neighboring Hon Bar, HonFest has become an international sensation. People travel from all over the globe to celebrate all things “Bawlmer” at this annual homage that now spans four city blocks along 36th street, better known as The Avenue, in Hampden, one of Baltimore’s oldest neighborhoods and according to locals, home to the city’s strongest accent. Film director John Waters, who did a number of cult films before dodging mainstream filmmaking with the 1988 flick, “Hairspray,” is a Baltimore native who set all of his movies in his hometown. Though it wasn’t a blockbuster in the theaters, “Hairspray” certainly was a hit on the stage after being adapted as the long-running Broadway musical, and if there’s one thing Hampden boasts during HonFest, it’s a kitschy costume party with lots of hairspray. When it was my turn in the beauty chair, I politely told the stylist that I didn’t want a real beehive, I only needed her to attach the wig to my head so it wouldn’t continue to topple. “Nonsense, Hon! The higher the hair, the closer to God,” she belted. I tried to resist

the AquaNet route on grounds of sheer difficulty in “dehiving my do,” but as it turns out, at the helm of my hair was none other than Sue Ebert, the “Updo Diva.” Owner of a Hampden salon called Kumbaya, Ebert has created looks for TV stars and runway models, but this time of year, it’s all about the beehive. I still can’t believe how tall our hair was when we walked into the festive fray that day as bona fide Hons. Well, technically we needed leopard print and some Spandex in our 1960s attire, but that didn’t stop our HonFest fashion or our hair-raising experience from being a raucous success. We spent a beautiful Saturday talking “Bawlmerese” (see sidebar, hon!), shopping for souvenirs and handcrafted wares, popping in and out of boutiques like Ma Petite Shoe, which not only sells designer shoes but also artisan chocolate, and, of course, we did our fair share of people-watching. Held over the course of two days, usually the second weekend each June, HonFest has a number of activities to enjoy including outdoor stages with live music, vendors selling food and drinks, and the crowdpleasing pageantry that is the traditional Baltimore’s Best Hon competitions. Having gone from drab to fab and dressed in the wackiest, tackiest wardrobe we could conjure, the time had come to see the rest of Baltimore. We made our way back to the two-story bird perched above Hon Bar, where a friendly gal shouted, “Whaddaya have, Hon?” “Taxi to Inner Harbor, Hon.” Waterfront Fun While other cities are surrounded by, and oftentimes defined by, skyscrapers, Baltimore boasts a skyline that is easy to navigate. This fact might sound insignificant, but when you’re touring different neighborhoods and suddenly find yourself directionally challenged, all is right in the world again with a quick peek at the harbor. Our home for the weekend was the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, located right

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travel PHOTO COURTESY OF BALTIMORE AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS ASSOCIATION

Top Left: American Visionary Art Museum Top Right: The crowd watching Baltimore’s Best Hon pageant

in the heart of the Inner Harbor, home to countless shops, restaurants and more popular attractions within walking distance than you can count. Families with tots in tow will want to explore Port Discovery Children’s Museum while science buffs should check out the Maryland Science Center. Truthfully though, the list of museum options around this city is mindboggling, with everything from the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards and the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum to museums for folks interested in ships, railroads, African-American culture, history, art, historical electronics and even dentistry — here, you can see George Washington’s choppers and sing along to toothpaste commercials! Hands-down favorites of mine are the Geppi Entertainment Museum and the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM). When you walk into the Geppi, you are essentially stepping into a time warp. It’s an unbelievable journey through 250 years of American pop culture told through approximately 6,000 artifacts including hallways lined with movie posters and galleries such as “A Story in Four Colors,” which is a

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

OGRAPHY

N WAIRE PHOT

TESY OF JOH

PHOTO COUR

comic book museum within the museum displaying relics such as Lady and the Tramp, Richie Rich and every superhero imaginable through more modern characters like the Simpsons. Elsewhere are figurines of popular characters, black and white TVs running old episodes of “Howdy Doody” and even one of the 5,000 bricks salvaged from the Cavern Club on Mathew Street in Liverpool, England. Before we left, we snapped our photos with life-sized versions of both Batman and Superman, and walked down memory lane with Mickey Mouse, Garfield and Barbie. Completely opposite in nature but equally interesting is the American Visionary Art Museum, where we marveled over a replica of the historic Lusitania ship, made out of 193,000 toothpicks and five gallons of glue! Paying tribute to and showcasing the work of intuitive, self-taught artists, this museum is home to artistic wonders you simply have to see to believe. Currently on exhibit is the yearlong playful exhibit, “What Makes Us Smile.” I can certainly tell you what made us smile: lunch upstairs in the museum at Mr. Rain’s Fun House. Capturing the whimsy and inspiration of the museum itself, this restaurant is unlike any other dining venue in Baltimore with a menu that boasts options that are unique and season sensitive. It’s fun and the food is absolutely fabulous contemporary American cuisine. Partial to Pies Perhaps better than a city full of fun things to see and do is the option to cruise by water taxi to the next stop. Buy one for $10 and you can scoot to more than 30 attractions, neighborhoods and restaurants on an all-day, unlimited use ticket. Though we had opted for a morning run to Fort McHenry, the star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812 and its bombardment that ultimately inspired Francis Scott Key to pen a poem titled “The Star Spangled Banner,” hopping aboard a water taxi proved to be our go-to mode

of transportation. We explored Baltimore’s nautical roots in the waterfront community of Fell’s Point, and then grabbed an incredible seafood dinner at Mama’s on the Half Shell in neighboring Canton, where I talked my friend into trying her first oyster, as if recruiting her to dress as a Hon wasn’t enough! Federal Hill, though, is the neighborhood that captured much of our attention. Maybe it was the reward from climbing all those steps to the grassy hilltop, the view of the downtown skyline or even the bevy of boutiques. Then again, I’m partial to think it was the pies! On tour as a member of a Baltimore rock band, Rodney Henry had an epiphany: Since rock n’ roll wasn’t paying his bills, perhaps pies could. His Dangerously Delicious Pies located on Light Street in Federal Hill lives up to its name with a selection of nearly 30 different sweet pies ranging from traditional pecan, apple, blueberry and peach to Chocolate Chess made with Swiss chocolate and heavy cream, and the Baltimore Bomb to which we mercilessly surrendered. The Baltimore Bomb is one of the most popular selling pies and for good reason — it’s loaded with Berger Cookies (a Baltimore specialty) that are melted down and swirled into a sweet vanilla chess ﬁlling. Savory pies include Hot Rod Potato (think potato au gratin inside a pie), pork barbecue and vegan chili, among several others. I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you that these perilous pies can be shipped, thanks to the bakery’s national pie delivery service. Yes, it’s that dangerous!

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No need to ship my pies. I’ll be back soon enough with a gaggle of hideously dressed girls. “Bawlmer is fun, hon! Bleef dat.” PN

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N : Café Hon www.cafehon.com Visit Baltimore www.baltimore.org

ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

TRAVEL tidbits

[ W RI T T E N BY A N D RE W N E V E IL S ]

“People don’t take trips; trips take people.”

EMERALD COAST CVB

- John Steinbeck

Northwest Florida’s Coast is often the source

PHOTO COURTESY OF

of great joy for families of all ages. Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) is happy to welcome Vision Airlines to their list of non-stop, low-fare air service. Beginning March 25, you’ll find that driving to Sandestin, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island and the surrounding beaches is a thing of the past. You can jet down yearround and enjoy more time teeing off on the golf course, fishing off the pier or relaxing on the beach. Visit today with rates as low as $79! For more information on Florida’s Emerald Coast, visit www.emeraldcoastfl.com. For Vision Airline rates and markets, visit www.visionairlines.com or call 877-359-2538.

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSEWOOD HOTELS AND RESORTS

PHOTO COURTESY OF BABY B’AIR

Traveling with children

can be an experience in itself. Safely flying with a child requires a certain amount of strength and endurance, and Baby B’Air helps provide both of those. This FAA in-flight approved vest is better than car seats (which rarely fit) and makes for a comfortable transport. Though allowing your child to sit in your lap is more cost-effective, there are safety hazards when they aren’t secured. Baby B’Air provides the comfort you need when you’re stressed about flying with a child and saving money. Retailing at $34.95, this vest allows you to secure your child to you on your lap. You can purchase one online at www.babybair.com or at New Baby Products in Snellville or Atlanta (www.newbabyproducts.com). For more information, call 800-417-5228.

Emerald

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has many locations throughout the world and they’ve recently opened a new location in Mexico. Rosewood San Miguel de Allende offers 67 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, SENSE, A Rosewood Spa,” state-of-the-art ﬁtness facilities, the 1826 Restaurant, the Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar, luscious gardens and a unique outdoor amphitheatre. You’ll feel as though you’ve escaped to a royal paradise, but without the cost. To celebrate its grand opening, Rosewood San Miguel is offering this MORE Rosewood package to all guests: Stay for three nights and receive the fourth night for free. This offer is only valid through May 27, 2011. For more information, visit www.rosewoodsanmiguel.com or call 888-767-3966.

A SP E C I A L A DV E RTI S I NG S E C TI O N

southern mountain

Atlanta Steeplechase, April 16, Kingston Downs

FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS [April 2 – May 15] For the 26th year in a row, more than 100,000 tulips will grace the property at the legendary Biltmore estate. With meadows of white, purple, pink, yellow and red, guests will be welcomed in the most beautiful of gestures. Additional activities include live music daily, an “ask a Gardener” station, an art show and more. Festival is included with general admission, which starts at $29. Asheville, 800411-3812, www.biltmore.com AWAKENING OF THE VINES [April 3, 10 and 17] Enjoy the sounds of live bluegrass music amidst the mountain beauty of Wolf Mountain Vineyards and celebrate the awakening of the vines with a Bluegrass Brunch. The beautiful mountain music will dance through your ears as the wine dances on your tongue. Dahlonega, 706-867-9862, www.wolfmountainvineyards.com BEAR ON THE SQUARE FEST [April 15 – 17] This is the ultimate celebration of spring in North Georgia and includes live music, folk dancing, a juried artists’ market, auctions and so much more. It’s how spring should be welcomed. Most activities are free; all Saturday performances are $20 and $15 on Sunday. Dahlonega Square, 706-864-3513, www.bearonthesquare.org ART ABOVE BURTON [April 16] This black tie optional fête pairs the artwork

ATLANTA STEEPLECHASE [April 16] This 46th annual event opens at 9 a.m. and is an incredible day of horse racing, tailgating, picnicking and family fun set in the Northwest Georgia countryside of Bartow County. This all day event includes live music, an air show, petting zoo, pony rides, shopping and the thrilling sport of steeplechase. Tickets by advanced reservation are $30. Kingston Downs, 404-237-7436, www.atlantasteeplechase.org, www.notatlanta.org YOUNG HARRIS ART FEST [April 16 – 17] With more than 50 artisans, this juried art festival is handmade fun. With the beautiful Appalachian Mountains in the background, the setting couldn’t be more gorgeous. Admission is free and the fun lasts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Young Harris, 706-8976179, www.robinrobertspromotions.com PEANUTS – THE EASTER BEAGLE EXPRESS [April 22 – 23] All aboard the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad as it departs Bryson City for a 4 1/2-hour journey along the Tuckasegee River, over the Fontana Lake Trestle and into the Nantahala River Gorge. Fellow passengers will include Snoopy, Lucy, Charlie Brown and the Easter Bunny, and additional festivities include an Easter egg hunt, egg decorating, storytelling, snacks with Snoopy and more. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, 800-872-4681, www.gsmr.com GEORGIA MOUNTAIN BIRDFEST [April 28 – May 1] This four-day festival includes more than 60 field trips, seminars and hands-on activities for all levels of birders. This is the only

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEAR ON THE SQUARE FESTIVAL | DAHLONEGA

of Burton Gallery with dancing, live and silent auctions and exceptional dining. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Foxfire. Tickets are $75 per person. The Lodge at Lake Burton Club, 706-212-4000, www.lakeburtonclub.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF GA STATE PARKS & HISTORIC SITES

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEEPLECHASE

COMPILED BY ANDREW NEVEILS

Calendar

Bear on the Square Fest, April 15 – 17, Dahlonega

CELEBRATE CLAYTON [April 30 – May 1] This art, music, crafts and gardening event is open for all ages with mouth-watering grub and a superb kids program. There will be a raffle for $1 per ticket. Rain or shine, this program is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. This will be some down-home country fun! Clayton, 706-782-4812, www.celebrateclayton.com

Georgia Mountain Birdfest, April 28 – May 1, Unicoi State Park

birding conference of its kind in North Georgia. Tickets are $110 for all four days, with $5 for parking. Unicoi State Park, 706-8782201 ext. 305, www.gamtnbirdfest.com 2011 TOUR DE CASHIERS [April 30] This ride is for the serious cyclist and joy rider alike. With multiple ranges of courses available, those who want an easier 25-mile ride or a challenging 100-mile can find something in between (or more, if you dare). The North Carolina scenery is gorgeous and the afterparty is happenin’. Tickets are $40 per rider before April 17 and $45 after. Cashiers, 828743-5545, www.tourdecashiers.com

SPRING SPECIALS IN BLUE RIDGE [April & May] This spring, Mountain Top Cabin Rentals makes it possible to escape to a peaceful mountain hideaway without blowing your budget. In April, pay for three nights in one of their well-appointed cabins and get the fourth night free, or pay for two nights in May and get the third night free (excluding May 27 – 30). Accommodations may include a range of amenities such as mountain views, water frontage, fireplaces, hot tubs and more. Blue Ridge Mountains, 706-258-6220, www.mountaintopcabinrentals.com SEAFOOD FESTIVAL [May 1, 15, 22, 29] Enjoy a sampling of seasonal fresh seafood paired with Wolf Mountain Vineyard’s blended white wines. The delicious

UP SC AL E , P E T FRIENDLY

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Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 238 – Cashiers, NC 28717 Phone: 1-828-743-5941 E-mail: cashcham@dnet.net www.cashiers-nc.com

ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

A S P E C I A L A DV E RTI S I NG S E C TI O N

southern mountain pairings will make your Sundays relaxed and refined. Dahlonega, 706-867-9862, www.wolfmountainvineyards.com VINCE GILL IN CONCERT [May 6] The legendary country crooner has won the most Grammys for best male country artist, is second only to Brooks & Dunn with total CMA wins and has been a professional recording artist since 1983. You can enjoy his good music and humor at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds for only $45 per ticket plus $2 for handling. Hiawassee, 706-896-4191, www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com RODIN: THE FIGURE IN BRONZE [May 6 – July 10] Auguste Rodin is widely recognized as one of the most important sculptors of the modern era and is often compared to Michelangelo. This show consists of 24 posthumous original bronze sculptures and will be unveiled on May 6 at a $100 per person black tie event. The remainder of the exhibit is free and open to the public. Library Technology Center at North GA College & State University, 706-864-1547, www.northgeorgia.edu/rodin MOUNTAIN EGGFEST [May 20 – 21] This isn’t about edible eggs, but it is about tasting great food cooked on The Big Green Egg, a cooker/barbecue/grill all in one. Cooks get in for $10 (bring your own egg), while tasters’ cost is $20 per ticket or $35 per couple. Prizes and cooking demos will also be available. The main event takes place Saturday while a scramble golf tournament and meet-and-greet with the cooks is on Friday. Hiawassee, 706-896-4191, www.mountainegg.com TOUR BIG CANOE [May 21] Celebrating the four seasons, four glorious homes will be brilliantly decorated by awardwinning flower and culinary designers. After touring these homes you can enjoy lunch at the Crazy Bear Café, shop at the Springtime

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

Calendar

Marketplace or enjoy the artistry of Big Canoe. For only $20, this tour is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with proceeds going to local charities. Big Canoe, 706-268-3203, www.bigcanoetour.org BARBECUE SHOWDOWN & FESTIVAL [May 28] More than 20 teams will compete in a Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned 4th Annual Horsin’ Around BBQ Showdown, so you know this will be finger-lickin’ good. A mere $5 gets you in the gate to taste some of the best grub in Georgia. Live music, arts and crafts, a Kids Fun Zone, animal exhibit and much more will entertain the entire family. Brasstown Valley, 706-379-4606, www.brasstownvalley.com SPRING FESTIVAL [May 28] Crane Creek Vineyards is excited to offer delicious food, live music and unique wines for $20 per adult. Children 12 – 21 can enjoy the music and food for $10 while those under 12 get in for free. Crane Creek Vineyards, 706-379-1236, www.cranecreekvineyards.com GARDEN JUBILEE FESTIVAL [May 28 – 29] This spectacular event in North Carolina is a mecca for gardeners around the Southeast. More than 200 vendors selling handmade crafts, plants and unique lawn and garden accessories will be available for purchase. A free clinic on various gardening techniques will also be available in addition to great food. Be sure to bring a wagon or cart for easier transportation of your purchases! Hendersonville, 800-828-4244, www.historichendersonville.org CHEROKEE CARNIVAL [June 6 – 10] Celebrate the start of summer by finding the kid within – take the entire family for a funfilled extravaganza featuring carnival rides, music, games and an assortment of festival fare sure to put a smile on your face. Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds, 800-438-1601

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www.wolfmountainvineyards.com | 706-867-9862 Reservations required for all Food Service ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Catch of the Day

Top Left: Shrimp and Grits Top Right: Lobster Bottom Right: Low Country Bouillabaisse

Goin’ Coastal

PHOTO COURTESY OF STUDIOBURNS, INC.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE REYNOLDS GROUP

Dive into These Hot Spots for Seafood in the Suburbs

PHOTO COURTESY OF STUDIOBURNS, INC.

a beach girl, born and bred, the ﬁner things in life for me are oftentimes the simple ones: the sentimental squish of sand between my toes, the soothing sound of ocean waves lapping on the shore and the pure pleasure of diving into a plate of fabulous, fresh seafood. That’s my kind of heaven. While the ﬁrst two are nearly impossible to do without goin’ coastal, I recently ventured to Canton, where a restaurant by the same name has been making waves in Atlanta’s restaurant scene since 2008. Tucked among storefronts on Canton’s Main Street, Goin’ Coastal is exactly what I had hoped it would be — comfortable, casual and downright delicious. The décor of this self-proclaimed seafood joint is simple, with an open dining room surrounded by exposed brickwork, weathered timber accents and oversized chalkboards packed with the fresh catches of the day: rainbow trout from Idaho, Amberjack from South Carolina,

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

farm-raised tilapia from Costa Rica and flounder from North Carolina and Florida, are just a few of the hardto-resist options scribbled in white. The biggest catch, however, isn’t written on the board. It’s embedded in the culinary credo of executive chef and co-owners Zach Kell and Seth Hendricks, who believe first and foremost in honoring their commitment to sustainability. Whether fished or farmed, the seafood comes from sources in the United States and Canada that can exist over the long term without compromising the species’ survival and the overall health of the ecosystem. As explained to us by our insightful waiter, this passion for sustainability ensures only the highest quality seafood finds its way to the menu here.

125 West Main St., Canton 770-479-3737 www.goincoastalseafood.com Goin’ Coastal, a sustainable seafood joint, also has a second location in Virginia Highland. 1021 Virginia Ave. NE, Atlanta 404-941-9117

G O F I S H I N G FO R M O R E AT TH E S E S C RU M P TI O U S S E A FO O D R E S TAU R A NT S I N TH E N O RTH S I D E PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LILIAN RAJI AGENCY

And believe me, you can taste the difference, as each Southern-inspired dish creatively embraces the natural flavors and textures of the ingredients while highlighting the freshly caught fish and seafood. After much debate between the Low Country Bouillabaisse, which includes Wild American shrimp, PEI mussels, scallops and seasonal crab simmered in a tomato fish stock with andouille sausage, new potatoes and corn, and the lobster and peekytoe crab cakes served with a sweet red pepper sauce and roasted corn salsa, I decided instead to order off the blackboard. It has been years since I’ve had flounder and I figured what better place than Goin’ Coastal to reunite with an old favorite from the sea. But I’m getting ahead of myself. First to arrive to our table was a half-dozen Ameri-Pure oysters, which I shared with my husband and my 5-year-old son, who surprised both of us when he asked if he could try one. Proud of his eagerness to expand his seafood horizons at such an early age, I passed an oyster on the half shell to him and waited. Needless to say, he was more content with the pile of peel-and-eat shrimp in front of him than the rest of the oysters in front of me! Note to those with little ones in tow, Goin’ Coastal has “off the menu” children’s options in case they aren’t quite as eager to share your love of seafood yet. Swirling a glass of organic Merlot, just one of the carefully selected wines and local craft beers chosen to accompany the chef’s epicurean efforts, I patiently waited for my North Carolina flounder. If it wasn’t so delicious, I would almost be ashamed at the speed at which I finished my meal. Each bite was divine and promptly devoured, despite every intention to slow down and savor it. With sustainable seafood in the suburbs, it looks like I’ll be Goin’ Coastal more often and that’s music to a beach girl’s ears. — Heather KW Brown

Tin Can Fish House & Oyster Bar

Bloody Mary Raw Oysters

The Hook: Dive in to the oysters and brews at this friendly hangout, reminiscent of your favorite seaside café. Location: 227 Sandy Springs Place, Suite 502, Sandy Springs For More Information: 404-497-9997; www.tincanfishhouse.com You may just have to pinch yourself, or let the crab dish do it for you, because you’ll swear you just stepped into your favorite beachside hangout. Alas, Tin Can Fish House & Oyster Bar may not be able to serve up an ocean view, but it does dish out fabulous sea fare in a fun atmosphere. Owned by brother and sister team, Arte Antoniades and Nik Panagopoulos, Tin Can is nestled discreetly like a pearl in the City Walk at Sandy Springs, and is adjoined to the duo’s popular Mexican restaurant, Teela Taqueria. Inside, the ocean-colored walls are teeming with schools of copper fish and the outdoor patio is a quiet, private spot for warm, sunny days. But it’s the food that is the real catch, and I assure you won’t be disappointed. The extensive menu offers a delicious bounty of oysters, shrimp and mussels. My friend and I dove into the oysters and came up smiling. The Southern oysters with collared greens, bacon and bread crumbs and the Rockerfella won’t disappoint, and the cornmeal crusted fried oysters topped with bacon and crab combine the best of both worlds. The fish entrées are prepared naked, blackened, fried, horseradish crusted or brushed in a sweet chili sauce and come with a choice of two sides including Southern favorites like spicy fried green tomatoes, sweet potato tots and fried okra. Oh, and we haven’t even mentioned the seven versions of Po’ Boys, from shrimp and oyster and the catch of the day to pulled pork and a Southern BLT with bacon, greens, fried green tomatoes, feta cheese and spicy aioli. Yee haw! I also heartily recommend the signature Tin Can Salad of mixed greens, julienne tomatoes, blue cheese, pecans and dates tossed in a citrus herb vinaigrette. Best salad we’ve ever had, forks down. And their beer list is as jovial as a Jimmy Buffett song as you choose between selections of “Trailer Trash Brews,” “Blue Collar Beer,” “Georgia Craft,” and “White Collar Craft Beer.” Great for a group of friends trying to blow off steam or a family of fussy eaters, Tin Can Fish House & Oyster Bar is the next best thing to being at the beach. — Julie Hostetter

ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

FOOD FOR THOUGHT PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARL DANBURY JR.

Corned beef and cabbage Left to Right: Baked stuffed ﬂounder served with crabmeat stufﬁng and sautéed spinach; Lobster Mac & Cheese; Chocolate Kahlua Mousse Cake

Vinings Fish Company The Hook: The combination of virtual aquariums, hand-milled bar and tabletops from a 200-year-old barn in Blue Ridge, lobster mac & cheese

remoulade or Chef Paul’s legendary batter-fried lobster tail. Venture deeper and select from specialties like the baked stuffed ﬂounder

and chef Paul Albrecht … what else do you need? Petit Fours at Creations Bakery Location: 4300 Paces Ferry Road, Suite 150, Vinings For More Information: 678-888-9036; www.greatfoodinc.com

served with crabmeat stuffing and sautéed spinach, a sesame-crusted Homemade Ahi tuna steak accompanied by a tempura vegetable sushipudding roll and soy bread ginger vinaigrette, or the barbecued Mahi Mahi served with smoked tomato grits and sweet corn salsa. The ﬁsh a la carte menu, however,

Raise your hand if you’ve ever ordered a fresh ﬁsh entrée that arrived at your table overcooked. Ever ordered oysters Rockefeller with overwhelmingly dense Hollandaise sauce or fried lobster tails that were

is perfect for those who truly enjoy the art of fish preparation. Choose from salmon, tuna, sea bass, flounder, grouper, trout, Mahi Mahi or baby redfish, and then choose how you’d like it to be prepared (fried, broiled, steamed, pan-sautéed, blackened, grilled, pepper-crusted or

seemingly produced at a nearby Goodyear facility? Rest easy, because one of the newest seafood restaurants in town, Vinings Fish Company (VFC), succeeds where some others don’t meet the challenge. Father-and-son team Paul (formerly of Pano’s and Paul’s) and Patrick Albrecht have struck a harmonious chord for seafood (and steak) lovers in the quaint village of Vinings. Opened in late February, VFC combines a warm, casually hospitable environment with impeccably prepared dishes that one might expect from an Atlanta culinary legend. Start your voyage with the oyster shooter sampler (Bloody Mary, tequila lime shallot, cucumber watermelon vodka), the splendidly traditional oysters Rockefeller, petit crab cakes, the fried oysters served with Cajun

herb-crusted). VFC also offers rib-eye, ﬁlet mignon and chicken breast, plenty of side dishes and entrée additions, such as jumbo lump crabmeat, bleu cheese crust, blackened shrimp and carpetbagger style (fried oyster stuffing, chipotle hollandaise), and an unusually deep offering of 30 wines by the glass. With a tangled cast of nouvelle cuisine restaurants dotting the culinary landscape these days, Vinings Fish Company plunges retrospectively to a style and execution that, quite frankly, we have missed. Welcome back to the good old days! — Carl Danbury, Jr.

Oyster Bay Seafood Café The Hook: Bring out your inner beach bum with fresh, Florida Gulf fare and a dose of fun coastal kitsch at this casual seafood joint. Location: 125 Crogan St. SE, Lawrenceville For More Information: 770-910-7521; www.oysterbaylawrenceville.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN HARRISON

When I head to the beach, I want to eat where the locals eat — those casual dive bars tucked away from busy tourist attractions with “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem” attitudes and darn good seafood. I have my favorite spots on the coast and recently, I’ve discovered another one that gives me that same satisfaction here at home. The Lawrenceville square may be the last place you expect to ﬁnd great seafood, but Oyster Bay Seafood Café has reeled me in, hook, line and sinker. The small, dim dining room is decked out in coastal kitsch like beach signs, model ships and even a stuffed pirate, plus just enough neon Raw Oysters

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN HARRISON

The Lawrenceville square may be the last place you expect to ﬁnd great seafood, but Oyster Bay Seafood Café has reeled me in, hook line and sinker.

Bacon Shrimp Po Boy lighting to liven up the space. Opened in October 2009 by brothers Greg Mackler and Steven Green, both of whom boast extensive experience in the seafood biz, Oyster Bay’s menu offers a variety of Florida Gulf-style fare. Freshly shucked Gulf oysters are available raw, steamed, fried or baked any night of the week, and Tuesdays mean 50-cent oysters for diners all day long. Additional highlights include the Key West Conch Fritters with spicy homemade remoulade and the bacon shrimp po boy. (Why don’t all po boys come with bacon?) I washed it all down with a glass of — what else? — Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, a crisp and citrus-inspired wine that paired perfectly with my meal, like adding a squeeze of lemon to my seafood, just the way I like it. — Bre Humphries

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Cumming Fish Market The Hook: This new venture from the owners of Sage WoodďŹ re Tavern, The Diner at North Point and The Diner at Sugar Hill provides the perfect special occasion spot for seafood in the suburbs. Location: 872 Buford Road, Cumming For More Information: 770-889-4664; www.cummingďŹ shmarket.com Since opening last October, Cumming Fish Market has BEFORE

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Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

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Top: “The Real Deal…” Lobster Tail and Filet Bottom: Steamed Mussels pan-seared crab cakes, two light, batterless servings of jumbo lump crab and special spices, with roasted pepper and feta cream sauce. Signature dishes like a pecan-crusted grouper ﬁlet with risotto and lemonhoney buerre blanc are also available — this one’s a bit sweet on its own, but just right with an extra squeeze of lemon. And what’s a good seafood restaurant without its own take on key lime pie? Cumming Fish Market’s version is unlike any I’ve ever tasted — this tart, housemade pie is encased in a sphere of cake-like crust and topped with thick whipped cream to balance it out. Drop in on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights for a side of live entertainment with your seafood. — Bre Humphries

ptsnorth.com | April 2011 | Points North

CALENDAR

APRIL

[ C O M P I LE D BY A N D R E W N E V E I L S ]

Welcome to the Points North calendar. Events are listed by genre and each listing includes a description, date, a Web address (if available) and a phone number. Calendar submissions should be sent to calendar@ptsnorth.com two months prior to the month in which the event will occur. Please be advised that dates and times might change.

PERFORMING ARTS 2011 GEORGIA SENIOR FOLLIES

ART EXHIBITS [April 7 – 17]

The historic Cumming Playhouse will be home to the Senior Follies as many of your favorite rock ‘n’ roll songs are performed. Cumming Playhouse, 770-781-9178, www.playhousecumming.com

“SHREK THE MUSICAL”

[April 26 – May 1]

Everyone’s favorite ogre, princess and donkey are back in this hilarious musical full of huge laughs and magical music. The story is based on the characters of DreamWorks’ “Shrek” ﬁlm and will appeal to all ages. Fabulous Fox Theatre, 800-745-3000, www.shrekster.com/atlanta

[Through April 10]

THE COLOR OF HAIKU

[April 1 – 28]

In recognition of National Poetry month, local artists Gelia Dolcimascolo, Marianne Patty and Aviva Stern will exhibit artwork inspired by original haiku, a form of poetry originating in Japan. Dunwoody Library Gallery, 770-512-4640, www.dekalblibrary.org/branches/dunwoody.html

ARTS & CRAFT FESTIVAL AND BOAT SHOW

BUFORD’S PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL

[April 15 – 16]

The Tannery Row Artist Colony hosts this annual event, featuring artists from across the Southeast “painting the town” in Buford. Historic Buford, www.tanneryrowartistcolony.com

WESLEYAN ARTIST MARKET

[April 28 – 30]

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEACHTREEPIX.COM

The 53-acre Wesleyan campus in Norcross will feature more than 70 professional Southeast artists selling acrylic and oil painting, folk art, ceramics, mixed media, photography, textiles, pottery, jewelry, wood and more. Saturday evening ends with a live orchestral quartet performance. Wesleyan Campus, 770-448-7640, www.wesleyanartistmarket.com

ART IN BLOOM

“Happy Days, a New Musical”

[April 2 & 3]

This festival includes fabulous visual arts and crafts, live entertainment, food and an incredible “in the water” boat show and sale. Lake Lanier Islands Resort, 800-840-5253, www.lakelanierislands.com

[April 30 – May 2]

Timeless art and fresh flowers unite at this special exhibition of regional art from Atlanta’s finest galleries along with arrangements by regional floral designers. Johns Creek Arts Center, 770-623-8448, www.johnscreekarts.org

Presented by Jerry’s Habima Theatre, Georgia’s only theatrical company that features actors with developmental disabilities, this captivating musical will warm your heart and allow you to reminisce about the hit TV show featuring Richie, Potsie, Ralph Malph and

CSO JAZZ!: A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

the unforgettable king of cool himself, “The Fonz.” Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 678-812-4002, www.atlantajcc.org

Relive the swinging days of a bygone era as a whole new team of jazz giants delivers powerful performances and soulful memories. Earl Smith Strand Theatre, 770-429-7016, www.cobbsymphony.org

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

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CALENDAR SINBAD

APRIL [April 23]

The hardworking funnyman, whose clean, family friendly persona and animated antics have made him famous, is coming to Atlanta to provide comedy an audience of all ages can enjoy. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, 800-745-3000, www.cobbenergycentre.com

CHARITY EVENTS “AN EVENING OF HOPE”

[April 9]

Right to Hike, Inc. is hosting this event to raise support and awareness in honor of Meredith Hope Emerson, whose life was taken after being abducted on New Year’s Day in 2008. The Indigo Girls will make a special appearance along with local bands. Gwinnett Center, www.righttohikeinc.com

LEMONADE DAYS

[April 14 – 17]

Dunwoody Preservation Trust (DPT) will host its annual fundraiser in its usual carnival-style manner. With so many activities scheduled, one day couldn’t hold the fun and excitement! Amusement park rides, games, food and activities galore forced the DPT to extend the hours. Brook Run Park, www.dunwoodylemonadedays.org

HIKE 4 HYDE

[April 16]

This fundraiser helped a local 4-year-old boy receive a lifesaving kidney transplant recently, and this year, proceeds will go to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and The Foundation for Children with Atypical Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which has no cure and affects nearly 300 children every year in the U.S. Sawnee Mountain Preserve Park, 770-781-2217, www.hike4hyde.com

BABA’S GYRO & KABOB Authentic Greek, Persian & Italian Cuisine Dine-In | Take-out | Delivery | Catering Try our Lamb, Kubideh, Chicken, Steak, Pork & Cornish Hen Kabobs!

Don’t miss our Spanakopita, Baba Ghanush & Mirza Ghasemi!

Enjoy our Gyros, Souvlaki, Falafel, Moussaka & Chicken Wraps!

Our Italian entrees are the best in the area! Penne Milano, Chicken Parmesan, Ravioli ala Vodka and more. Also serving beer and wine.

Mention Points North & receive 20% off with the purchase of 2 drinks 10% off take-Out (max discount $10)

2310 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Suite A Cumming Open 7 Days a week: 11am - 10 pm 770-888-8100 | www.babasgyros.com

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com

ROSWELL DAY OF HOPE

[April 16]

Jeff Foxworthy serves as the honorary chairperson of this event, with 15 tons of free groceries (ﬁrst come, ﬁrst serve), health screenings, a job fair and more to provide support for struggling families. There will be live entertainment and activities for kids as well. Roswell City Hall, 770-641-5578, www.hoperoswell.org

DINING OUT FOR LIFE

[April 27]

Celebrate Administrative Professionals Day by dining out at more than 100 supporting locations across Metro Atlanta. Community nutrition programs will be supported by the 20 percent donation of all checks, courtesy of Open Hand. Visit online for a list of locations and other ways to support nutrition programs. Atlanta, 404-419-3333, www.diningoutforoh.org

JOHNNY LEATHERS, JR. MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

[April 29]

The Leathers family is hosting this golf tournament in an

DOES YOUR HOUSE NEED HELP? effort to raise awareness of depression and suicide prevention. Woodmont Golf & Country Club, 678-493-4986, www.thejohnnyfoundation.org

SANDY SPRINGS GARDEN TOUR

If your dĂŠcor is incomplete, in need of an update, some fresh ideas, or the experienced eye of a professional to â&#x20AC;&#x153;pull it all togetherâ&#x20AC;? - I can help. SERVICES DESIGNED TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS AND BUDGET:

â&#x20AC;˘ Redecorating â&#x20AC;&#x153;With What You Ownâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ Room planning â&#x20AC;˘ Color selection â&#x20AC;˘ Furniture, artwork and accessory purchases â&#x20AC;˘ Advice re: structural additions or changes. â&#x20AC;˘ Kitchen Re-Design and build out â&#x20AC;˘ After-move organization. â&#x20AC;˘ Preparing your home for sale.

[April 30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; May 1]

With spring in full bloom, the City of Sandy Springs is excited to open some of its most exquisite gardens for your viewing pleasure. Proceeds will beneďŹ t The Sandy Springs Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grant program to non-proďŹ ts serving the Sandy Springs community. Sandy Springs, 404-252-2787, www.sandyspringssociety.org

EILEEN WALPOLE Interior Re-Design Consultant

TEL:

770-393-3243

E-MAIL:

CELL:

404-840-8999

art.eileen@gmail.com

SPECIAL EVENTS SIMON FASHION NOW [April 1 & 2] This free fashion event features a vibrant mix of accessible, luxurious and affordable styles for spring. Lenox Square, 404-2337575, www.simon.com

GLOW IN THE GATEWAY

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[April 15]

Enjoy the bright colors and colorful banter among pilots as Suwanee hosts its ďŹ rst hot air balloon glow. Seeing hot air balloons during the day is far different than seeing them glow at night. Suwanee Gateway, 770-945-8996, www.suwanee.com

ATLANTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GREATEST HITS BIRTHDAY BASH

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[April 16]

Atlantaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Greatest Hits 106.7 brings Little River Band to the Suwanee Town Center stage at 7 p.m., but the fun begins at noon. Activities for the kids and parents make for an all day event for the whole family. Town Center Park, 770-945-8996, www.suwanee.com

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[April 29 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; May 1]

The Atlanta Figure Skating Club presents its spring ice show with special guest performers such as 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championship menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gold ďŹ nalist Ryan Bradley. The Cooler, Alpharetta, 770-649-6600, www.coolerathletics.com

BLOSSOM

[April 30]

This garden event features ďŹ ve gardens available for touring in Norcross. The Norcross Garden Club and the locally owned Gardens by Design will each be hosting plant sales and workshops to harvest tips to becoming master gardeners. Also, there will be artists selling garden-art and Kudzu Art Zone is hosting a ďŹ&#x201A;owerarranging class. Norcross, 770-448-2122, www.norcrossga.net

GREAT AMERICAN CAMPOUT

[April 30]

Discover a new kind of â&#x20AC;&#x153;night lifeâ&#x20AC;? as families are invited to get back to nature and spend some quality time together. This will be a beautiful way to start spring under the stars with the ones you love. Sims Lake Park, 770-945-8996, www.suwanee.com

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5 THINGS

[ W R I T T EN BY A N D R E W N E VE ILS ]

N YO

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Enjoy Teatime like Royalty. To commemorate the wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton, St. Regis Atlanta is inviting you to a Royal Afternoon Tea, served daily in April from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. A special Royal menu will be available as well. Royal Afternoon Tea includes a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne and themed refreshments honoring the bride and groom for $48 per person. Visit www.stregisatlanta.com or call 404-563-7910 for reservations or more information. See Piedmont Park in Bloom. For 75 years, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival has wowed locals with blooming dogwoods, great music and ﬁne art. From April 15 through 17, Atlantans can enjoy the natural beauty and creativity ﬂourishing at Piedmont Park for free. Continuing the original tradition, dogwood saplings will also be sold. For more information, visit www.dogwood.org or call 404-817-6642.

F YO

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Play Peek-a-Boo with Po. An unlikely hero, Po from “Kung Fu Panda,” is challenged about his self-worth and the power to affect positive change. Named for this character is our very own Po, the giant panda cub born to Lun Lun at Zoo Atlanta last November, who is scheduled to make his ﬁrst public appearance this month. Pay him a visit, or watch him online at www.zooatlanta.org/panda_cam. For more information, visit www.zooatlanta.org or call 404-624-9453. PH OT O

Celebrate Mother Earth. The City of Milton’s 2nd Annual Earth Day Festival, scheduled for April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Birmingham Park, is an effort to increase environmental awareness. The day features entertainment, horsedrawn carriage rides, a “Green Egg Hunt” at noon and the “Growing Greener” kids’ activity tent packed with fun crafts and unique environmental games. Bring your old shoes for recycling! Visit www.cityofmiltonga.us or call 678-242-2500 for more information. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ST. REGIS ATLANTA

Take a Hike! Getting back to nature is natural when wildflowers are in bloom. Many Georgia State Parks are offering guided spring wildflower hikes through backcountry trails while offering tips, pointing out native flowers and providing educational activities for the whole family. Sweetwater Creek, Amicalola Falls and Unicoi State Parks are just a few parks near Atlanta that are offering hikes, which are free, though parking costs $5. Visit www.georgiastateparks.org for locations, dates, start times and additional information.

Points North | April 2011 | ptsnorth.com